[SOLVED] PCIe Switches for CPU and GPU ?

Apr 4, 2021
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I would like to build a system that is able to test different combinations of CPU and GPU hardware without needing to be physically reconfigured. For example, say I have CPU A, and CPU B; and I have GPU X, and GPU Y. I need some type of PCIe switch to connect the devices. This would enable the following configurations:

  • CPU A and GPU X
  • CPU A and GPU Y
  • CPU B and GPU X
  • CPU B and GPU Y
So, through some kind of interface, I could specify which of the configurations I would like to test.

Does anyone know what type of hardware component(s) could enable this functionality?
 
Solution
If you want to test another CPU and another GPU you have to physically switch them. Like how are you gonna test 2 CPU without removing one and installing the other one?

When you test hardware like you want to do you have a test bench and the thing you switch is the hardware you want to test and the OS you use. Let's say you use a Nvidia Card and an Intel CPU well you use a Windows 10 already installed on a SSD where you had the latest Nvidia drivers installed and the OS is for an Intel platform using the Intel Chipset Drivers. For an AMD system you would have to use another OS. They do not install Windows everytime they switch hardware but they do switch the hardware. You will need more than 1 test bench if you want to switch...
If you want to test another CPU and another GPU you have to physically switch them. Like how are you gonna test 2 CPU without removing one and installing the other one?

When you test hardware like you want to do you have a test bench and the thing you switch is the hardware you want to test and the OS you use. Let's say you use a Nvidia Card and an Intel CPU well you use a Windows 10 already installed on a SSD where you had the latest Nvidia drivers installed and the OS is for an Intel platform using the Intel Chipset Drivers. For an AMD system you would have to use another OS. They do not install Windows everytime they switch hardware but they do switch the hardware. You will need more than 1 test bench if you want to switch quickly between the two.

If you take a look at JayTwoCents, Linus, BitWit etc on Youtube you can see that they have to change the hardware.
 
Apr 4, 2021
2
0
10
In this example, each CPU would be in their own motherboard. I’m looking for a solution where you connect the PCIe slot from the motherboard to a switch board, then connect the switch board to the GPU.

I was able to find an old but pretty clear example that could test different CPU and M.2 combinations with a PCIe switch:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB7OuektR0E


Both M.2 and GPU use PCIe, but I am looking for a PCIe switch that is able to use a higher bandwidth of x16 versus the x4 example.
 
If you want to test another CPU and another GPU you have to physically switch them. Like how are you gonna test 2 CPU without removing one and installing the other one?

When you test hardware like you want to do you have a test bench and the thing you switch is the hardware you want to test and the OS you use. Let's say you use a Nvidia Card and an Intel CPU well you use a Windows 10 already installed on a SSD where you had the latest Nvidia drivers installed and the OS is for an Intel platform using the Intel Chipset Drivers. For an AMD system you would have to use another OS. They do not install Windows everytime they switch hardware but they do switch the hardware. You will need more than 1 test bench if you want to switch quickly between the two.

If you take a look at JayTwoCents, Linus, BitWit etc on Youtube you can see that they have to change the hardware.
There's no PCIe "switchboard" commercially available.
Well, not all CPUs fit on all sockets, chipset and MB. Closest to what you want is to take an MB that works with all let's say Ryzen CPUs, best Ryzen CPU like r9 5950x and disable some cores to make it work same as lower end Ryzen. That would cover performance of all Zen3 (Ryzen 5000 processors), Similarly use 3950x for all 3000 Ryzen, 2950x for all Ryzen 2000 etc.
Every series of Ryzen has same or similar IPC and single core performance. For Intel, it's more problematic as they keep on changing sockets and chip compatibility with each generation.
For simultaneous comparison of dedicated GPUs, you would need an MB that has at least 2 PCIe x16 ports and sufficient number of PCIe lanes to serve them at same time.
As for OS, you should make one windows disk to run with Intel drivers and another one with AMD MB drivers.
 
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Solution